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Billerica police seek jewel thief

By Robert Mills, rmills@lowellsun.com

Updated:
03/19/2013 11:38:13 AM EDT

Video surveillance photo shows a person police believe broke into the Villaggio restaurant on Chelmsford Road on March 4, the same day he is believed to have broken into Kmart in town and swiped $80,000 worth of jewelry. courtesy billerica police

BILLERICA -- Billerica police are trying to identify a man who stole about $80,000 worth of jewelry during a burglary at Kmart earlier this month, and who is also believed to be responsible for several other break-ins in the area.

Detective Lt. Roy Frost said the burglary at Kmart, 484 Boston Road, occurred shortly after employees left for the night on March 4. Police have been investigating since that night, but initially kept quiet about the heist while trying to use other means to identify the suspect.

A single suspect was captured in surveillance video during the Kmart break-in and during a break-in at the Villaggio Restaurant, 56 Chelmsford Road.

The same suspect is believed to be responsible for a break-in at the Wagon Shed, 344 Boston Road, and during a break-in at a hair salon in Lowell, police said. All four burglaries occurred on March 3 or 4.

Frost said police have only seen one person in surveillance videos, but that investigators aren't sure whether the man is working alone.

Frost said the man has taken money and alcohol in addition to jewelry, and appears to be interested in anything he can quickly sell.

Anyone with information on the thefts or who believes they recognize the man pictured in surveillance footage is asked to call Billerica police at 978-671-0900.

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